Oregon wins sloppy Redbox Bowl over Michigan State

After the Redbox Bowl, Oregon’s junior quarterback might seriously want to reconsider his decision to return to school for his final season.

The Ducks looked wholly uninterested Monday afternoon, and only a perfect, back-shoulder pass from the future top-five pick saved them in a 7-6 victory over Michigan State that left a half-filled crowd at Levi’s Stadium wondering why it paid for tickets.

“They just put their noses down, grinded and worked hard,” Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said. “… You take a victory, whether it be by one point, two points or 50 points. These guys found a way to get it done.”

Oregon (9-4) somehow got its first bowl win since Jan. 1, 2015, when it beat Florida State to advance to the national title game (a 42-20 loss to Ohio State). The Ducks gained just 203 yards on 3.4 yards per play and went 2-for-14 on third downs.

They were especially awful when trying to run. Possessing the ball for fewer than 23 minutes, Oregon totaled 37 rushing yards on 27 carries, or about 50 inches per carry.

Oregon cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. (4) holds the trophy next to teammates after a 7-6 win over Michigan State during the Redbox Bowl NCAA college football game Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Oregon cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. (4) holds the trophy next to teammates after a 7-6 win over Michigan State during the Redbox Bowl NCAA college football game Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP

Oregon cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. (4) holds the trophy next to teammates after a 7-6 win over Michigan State during the Redbox Bowl NCAA college football game Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Oregon cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. (4) holds the trophy next to teammates after a 7-6 win over Michigan State during the Redbox Bowl NCAA college football game Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP

Michigan State (7-6) entered the game as the nation’s top-ranked defense against the run, but much of Oregon’s troubles had to do with lack of execution. The same could be said for the Spartans, who missed a field-goal try, botched a field-goal hold and muffed a punt return in the game’s final nine minutes in the closest thing to excitement the entire game.

The scoreless first half was so boring that the in-house, public-address announcer mocked the effort as the players headed for the locker room. There were 12 punts and 13 first downs.

The teams averaged 3.6 yards per play, and crossing midfield seemed like a momentous feat. Michigan State got inside the red zone twice in the first half, but failed to score on either drive.

The Spartans went for it on 4th-and-1 from the Oregon 23 in the closing minutes of the first half, but Brian Lewerke’s pass fell incomplete. Two series earlier, on a 3rd-and-5 play from the Oregon 20, Lewerke bobbled the snap and kicked the ball backward a few yards before picking it up, spinning and throwing an interception to Jevon Holland.

Matt Coughlin made a 34-yard field goal after Michigan State’s drive to open the second half stalled at the 16-yard line. The sophomore tacked on another 34-yarder 8½ minutes later to give the Spartans a 6-0 lead with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter.

Oregon didn’t advance past its 19-yard line in the third quarter. Then, as if the first three quarters had not happened, the Ducks resembled the Ducks to start the fourth.

After completing 14 of 27 passes for 109 yards in the first three quarters, Herbert went 4-for-4 for 50 yards on the fourth quarter’s first drive. He capped the possession with a 28-yard back-shoulder touchdown pass to Dillon Mitchell to put Oregon ahead 7-6 with 11:19 to play.

After Michigan State missed a field-goal try and Oregon failed to convert on a fake punt, the Spartans took possession at their 35-yard line with 6½ minutes remaining. They drove to the Oregon 32 for a potential go-ahead field goal with 1:35 on the clock, but Lewerke botched the hold and raced to his right, only to get knocked out of bounds.

That made a winner out of Herbert, who announced Wednesday that he was returning for his senior season.

“At the beginning of the game, you try to suppress (the frustration), but as the game goes on, it builds up,” said Lewerke, who went 22-for-40 for 172 yards. “I’m sure everyone on the offense feels bad for the defensive guys. They played a hell of a game. Holding Oregon to seven points is not an easy task, at all.”

Herbert, whose offense averaged 39.4 points per game in his first 27 starts, finished 19-for-33 for 166 yards. CJ Verdell ran 14 times for 43 yards, and Mitchell had six catches for 70 yards as Oregon joined Oklahoma and Memphis as the only teams this season with a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver.